Wildflowers of Ainsworth: Poison Hemlock

A couple years ago, hanging out by the railroad tracks, we met a black sheep of the Parsley family. Now we meet another, in a more populated place: Jerry Pavese Park.

Allow me to introduce you to Poison Hemlock.


(Click on images to enlarge)

These disgraces to the Parsley family name stand some six or seven feet tall. More about their poisonous personalities here. Yes, these are the guys who did Socrates in. And now you can find them loitering around the park, waiting for another victim.

The leaves:


Pretty, aren't they? And they look so much like wild carrots.

Their distinguishing characteristic is a purple-spotted stem.


The blossoms.